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Biomedical subjects

M M Scheinman

Publications and source records attributed to M M Scheinman.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Modification of the atrioventricular node. A new approach to the treatment of supraventricular tachycardias.

Atrioventricular nodal modification appears to be a relatively safe and effective treatment option for patients with refractory AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. Hopefully, the long-term results will be as encouraging as the initial experience. Newer surgical and catheter techniques, together with a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, may lead to improved efficacy and safety. In the future, AV nodal modification may obviate the need for drug therapy in patients with symptomatic AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and be applied to the treatment of other supraventricular tachycardias.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1989

Exercise-induced double (atrial and ventricular) tachycardia: a report of three cases.

Exercise-induced double tachycardia, i.e., the simultaneous occurrence of atrial and ventricular tachycardia, is described in three patients: one patient had coronary artery disease; the other two were young and had no apparent heart disease. One of the latter patients later died suddenly. Double tachycardia could not be initiated by programmed atrial or ventricular stimulation. In two patients atrial tachycardia always preceded ventricular tachycardia and, in one patient, ventricular tachycardia was terminated by the administration of adenosine triphosphate. Reentry does not seem to be the underlying mechanism for these arrhythmias; abnormal automaticity or triggered activity may be the mechanism.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1989

The scintigraphic characteristics of ventricular pre-excitation through Mahaim fibers with the use of phase analysis.

The phase image pattern of blood pool scintigrams was blindly assessed in 11 patients exhibiting conduction through Mahaim pathways, including 6 nodoventricular and 5 fasciculoventricular. These patterns were compared with the phase image findings in normal subjects, patients with left and right bundle branch block in the absence of pre-excitation and patients with pre-excitation through atrioventricular (AV) connections. In all patients with a Mahaim pathway, the site of earliest phase angle was septal or paraseptal. Phase progression was asymmetric and the pre-excited ventricle demonstrated the earliest mean ventricular phase angle in 10 of 11 patients. This pattern, and the associated ventricular phase difference, appeared to vary from that in normal subjects and in those with a septal AV connection, in whom phase progression is generally symmetric. Scintigraphic phase analysis provided localizing information and presented patterns consistent with Mahaim pathways. Although not able to differentiate among Mahaim pathway subtypes, these phase patterns differed from those in normal subjects, those with right and left lateral free wall pathways and most patients with a septal AV pathway. However, the phase pattern of patients with a Mahaim pathway may not differ from that of patients with a septal AV connection displaying an asymmetric pattern of phase progression, or those with left and right bundle branch block in the absence of pre-excitation. Objective, yet imperfect phase measurements supported these differences. Such image findings may complement the often complex electrophysiologic evaluation of patients presenting with pre-excitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Long-term results of amiodarone therapy in patients with recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

Four hundred sixty-two patients, all with either documented spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia or cardiac arrest unresponsive to other antiarrhythmic drugs (2.6/patient), were treated with amiodarone. Thirty-five patients (7.6%) failed to respond or died during the initial oral or intravenous loading phase. The remaining 427 patients were discharged on treatment with oral amiodarone and followed up for up to 98 months. Recurrence of ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death at 1, 3 and 5 years by life-table analysis was 19%, 33% and 43%, respectively, for patients discharged on amiodarone therapy. The sudden cardiac death rate was 9%, 15% and 21%, respectively, at 1, 3 and 5 years. Side effects were reported by 45% of patients after 1 year, by 61% after 2 years and by 86% after 5 years. Amiodarone was discontinued because of side effects in 14%, 26% and 37% of patients after 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Incidence rates of recurrence of arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death and side effects were highest in the early months and then decreased. By multivariate analysis, advanced age, low ejection fraction and a history of cardiac arrest were independent risk factors for sudden cardiac death during amiodarone therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Catheter ablation of accessory pathways using radiofrequency energy in the canine coronary sinus.

Ablation of a left-sided accessory pathway with high energy direct-current shocks delivered by an electrode catheter in the coronary sinus is associated with the risk of coronary sinus rupture. The safety and effectiveness of closed chest catheter desiccation in the coronary sinus with use of radiofrequency energy was studied. Radiofrequency energy (174 +/- 74 J) was applied between the distal electrode of a standard electrode catheter placed 3 to 6 cm inside the coronary sinus and a large posterior chest wall patch in 16 dogs. No arrhythmias or hemodynamic changes were observed. Three dogs were killed approximately 1 h after ablation and 13 after 2 to 4 weeks. Lesions in the atrioventricular (AV) sulcus were observed in 14 of 16 dogs. Lesions were 11.6 +/- 6 mm in length, 4.3 +/- 2.3 mm in width and 2.8 +/- 1.4 mm in depth. Microscopic examination showed well circumscribed areas of necrosis and fibrosis in the fat of the AV sulcus. The media and intima of the circumflex coronary artery were not involved nor was the endocardium or mitral apparatus damaged in any dog. Coronary sinus thrombus was present in 3 of 16 dogs. Large amounts of radiofrequency energy can be safely applied to the coronary sinus. The size and location of the lesions produced suggest that this technique may be useful for the interruption of left-sided accessory AV connections in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Catheter ablation of canine myocardium with radiofrequency energy.

High energy direct-current shocks delivered via an electrode catheter have been used to ablate the atrioventricular junction since 1981. This technique has also been adapted for ablation of other cardiac tissues including the atrium, posterior interatrial septum and ventricular myocardium. The limitations of this technique include inadequate control of the energy source, poor understanding of the mechanisms of myocardial injury, and untoward complications possibly related to barotraumatic injury. Radiofrequency energy has been shown to create ablative injury when delivered to the myocardium via standard electrode catheters. This report will review our experience with radiofrequency catheter ablation of the canine myocardium with specific emphasis on the biophysical aspects of lesion formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Results of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia using direct current shocks.

Thirty-three patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) underwent catheter ablation with direct-current shocks. One to four shocks of 100-300 joules were delivered to the presumed VT exit sites as identified by endocardial mapping and pace mapping. Fifteen patients (45%) had no recurrence of symptomatic VT during a follow-up interval of 15.5 +/- 10 months (mean +/- standard deviation). Five patients experienced six nonfatal complications (new VT or ventricular fibrillation, transient neurological deficit, atrioventricular block, brachial artery thrombosis). In conclusion, catheter ablation in selected patients with recurrent VT has the potential for preventing recurrences of VT over the long-term and is relatively safe.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Permanent antitachycardia pacemaker therapy for ventricular tachycardia.

This article describes our experience with an antitachycardia pacemaker alone (N = 3) or in combination with an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD, N = 8) in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia. Eleven patients (mean ejection fraction 31%, mean age 67 years) received an antitachycardia pacemaker. Nine had their units programmed for automatic antitachycardia pacing, one unit was programmed to automatic antitachycardia pacing by magnet activation only, and one to tachycardia detection and bradycardia support. Of the nine patients with automatic antitachycardia pacing, seven received appropriate and successful pace termination of spontaneous ventricular tachycardia at up to 120 times per month. Eight of these nine have had AICD implantations as well. There were no operative complications. Over a mean (+/- SD) follow-up of 12.1 +/- 9.3 months (range 3-29 months), there have been two deaths, both due to heart failure. There have been four AICD discharges in three patients. Two units discharged in a clinically appropriate setting. The other two units, both with rate cutoffs less than 200 beats/min, were inadvertently triggered by the antitachycardia pacemaker and/or the underlying rate. In addition to the careful selection of the defibrillator rate cutoff, adverse device-device interactions were avoided by careful intraoperative lead positioning, and the disabling of bradycardia pacing when not needed or contraindicated. Antitachycardia pacing, with the safety provided by the AICD, is an effective treatment for patients with medically refractory ventricular tachycardia.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Long-term results of catheter ablation of a posteroseptal accessory atrioventricular connection in 48 patients.

Forty-eight patients with a posteroseptal accessory atrioventricular (AV) connection underwent catheter ablation of the accessory AV connection with 200-400 J shocks delivered by a standard defibrillator. Cathodal shocks were delivered through the proximal pair of electrodes of a 6F quadripolar electrode catheter positioned in the coronary sinus such that the proximal electrodes straddled the ostium (12 patients) or the third electrode from the tip was at the ostium (36 patients). A 16-cm patch electrode positioned on the back or anterior chest served as the anode. Two to 4 shocks were delivered (total, 635 +/- 198 J, mean +/- SD). The cathether ablation procedure was clinically successful in eliminating symptomatic tachycardias in in 32 of 48 patients (67%) during a mean follow-up of 26 +/- 19 months. A long-term follow-up electrophysiology study was performed in 27 of the 32 patients who had a successful clinical outcome, and this showed that conduction through the accessory AV connection was completely absent in 25 patients and present but impaired in two patients. The success rate was significantly higher in patients with a concealed accessory AV connection (13 of 13, 100%) than in patients with manifest preexcitation (19 of 35, 54%; p less than 0.001). Among the 12 patients in whom the proximal electrodes of the ablation catheter straddled the ostium of the coronary sinus, one patient developed cardiac tamponade requiring needle pericardiocentesis; there were no instances of cardiac tamponade among the 36 patients in whom the third electrode from the tip was at the ostium of the coronary sinus. Other complications were AV block requiring a permanent pacemaker and transient atrial tachycardia in one patient each and an asymptomatic pericardial effusion in three patients. In conclusion, with the catheter ablation technique described in this study, a successful clinical outcome may be achieved in approximately two thirds of patients who have a posteroseptal accessory AV connection, and the risk of serious complications is low. This technique is particularly well suited to patients with a concealed posteroseptal accessory AV connection, in whom the success rate is higher than in patients with manifest preexcitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Percutaneous catheter modification of the atrioventricular node. A potential cure for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Our purpose was to describe a technique of atrioventricular (AV) node modification for patients with drug refractory AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Nine patients (mean age, 45 +/- 20; range, 14-82) with recurrent drug refractory AVNRT (n = 8) or sudden cardiac death thought to be precipitated by AVNRT (n = 1) underwent a percutaneous catheter procedure to modify AV nodal function. The area between the electrode recording the maximal His-bundle electrogram and the ostium of the coronary sinus was divided into three zones. Perinodal direct current shocks of 100-300 J were delivered to one (n = 2), two (n = 3), or three (n = 4) zones without complications. The procedure endpoints were modification of AV conduction (either first degree AV block or complete retrograde ventriculo-atrial [VA] block) and failure to induce AVNRT before or after isoproterenol and/or atropine administration. Six of nine patients (67%) have had no inducible or spontaneous AVNRT over a mean follow-up of 12.3 +/- 4.1 months (range, 4.5-17). One of the six underwent repeat, successful modification, because AVNRT was inducible at restudy 2 days after the initial procedure. AVNRT recurred in three patients (33%), one early (3 days) and two late (3-4 months). Two of these patients underwent complete ablation of the AV junction and permanent pacemaker placement, whereas one is controlled with drug therapy. Therefore, AV nodal modification resulted in tachycardia control without antiarrhythmic drugs in six of nine (67%) and obviated the need for complete AV junctional ablation in seven of nine patients (78%). Elimination of AVNRT appears to result from either block in the retrograde fast pathway or modification of the antegrade slow pathway, such that AVNRT cannot be sustained. Additional findings suggest that an atrio-Hisian accessory connection may not be involved in AVNRT in some of these patients. Percutaneous catheter AV nodal modification appears to be a promising technique for treatment of refractory AVNRT and may obviate need for complete AV junctional ablation in a substantial number of patients with drug/pacemaker refractory AVNRT.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction with radiofrequency energy.

Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction using direct-current defibrillator discharges requires general anesthesia and may have serious side effects. Sixteen patients with drug-refractory supraventricular tachycardia underwent catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction using radiofrequency energy. A standard 7F quadripolar electrode catheter was positioned to record the largest unipolar His potential (580 +/- 640 microV) from the distal electrode. An electrocoagulator (Microvasive Bicap 4005) supplied continuous, unmodulated energy at 550 kHz. One to 14 applications of radiofrequency current were delivered between the distal electrode and a large-diameter chest wall electrode. Transient, mild chest discomfort was reported by seven of 16 patients. None had significant arrhythmias or blood pressure changes during radiofrequency ablation. Complete atrioventricular block was produced in nine of 16 patients and high-grade second-degree atrioventricular block was produced in one patient with radiofrequency current. Attenuated His bundle electrograms could still be recorded in the remaining six patients, four of whom underwent successful atrioventricular junctional ablation using direct-current shock during the same session. Atrioventricular block persisted in all 10 patients successfully treated with radiofrequency ablation during a mean follow-up of 4.2 months. Compared with a group of historic control subjects treated with direct-current shock ablation, the 10 patients successfully treated with radiofrequency current had significantly less creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme release (5.7 +/- 5.1 vs. 22 +/- 13 IU, p = 0.006). A junctional escape rhythm was present in all patients after radiofrequency-induced atrioventricular block. In contrast, three of 10 control patients had an idioventricular escape after direct current shock ablation, and four patients had no escape rhythm at all.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Atrioventricular Node↗
PubMed1988

The transponder system: a new method of precise catheter placement in the right atrium under echocardiographic guidance.

The ability to localize catheters within the heart has gained importance with the use of percutaneous catheter ablation and the transseptal approach for valvuloplasty. A prototype interactive transponder catheter system, specifically designed to mark the catheter tip for echocardiographic visualization, was used to place catheters at the tricuspid anulus and the fossa ovalis in anesthetized dogs. Catheter tip location was marked by lesions produced by radiofrequency energy delivered at the distal catheter electrode. At autopsy, the center of the radiofrequency-induced lesion was located 2.8 +/- 0.7 mm from the edge of the lateral tricuspid anulus and 3.5 +/- 3.1 mm from the center of the fossa ovalis. The transponder catheter system offers the ability to precisely position catheters in the right atrium under echocardiographic guidance.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Use of intravenous amiodarone for emergency treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Efficacy, side effects and predictors of response for intravenous amiodarone were evaluated in 46 patients with recurrent drug-refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, or both, who were treated with intravenous amiodarone. Of the 46 patients, 27 (58.5%) responded early to intravenous amiodarone and 6 (13%) showed a late response to amiodarone. The majority of patients who responded to intravenous amiodarone did so within the first 2 h of therapy, and all responded within 84 h. Patients with an ejection fraction greater than 25% were more likely to respond (p less than 0.05). Major side effects occurred in 13% of patients. The cumulative 2 year mortality rate due to arrhythmia recurrence or sudden death for responders discharged from the hospital was 23% and the cumulative overall 2 year mortality rate was 46%. In conclusion, intravenous amiodarone is rapidly effective in the majority of patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation refractory to other drugs. The poor long-term outcome of patients who require this therapy, respond to it and are discharged on long-term oral amiodarone therapy warrants consideration of other long-term treatment of these patients. Use of intravenous amiodarone is an important new modality in the treatment of drug-refractory malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

Amiodarone↗